Page 42 of A Dance of Shadows

Marc appears to consider the question. “Laying out the facts and logic used to, at least to some extent. He didn’t always push things so far. And he listened to Father more than he ever has to me.” He offers me a crooked smile. “Unless you can resurrect a dead emperor, I’m afraid I don’t know what to suggest, or I’d already be doing it.”

That unnerving statement is still hanging in the air between us when the soldiers at the front of the convoy call out at the sight of the waystation where we’ll spend the night. The carriages slow to a halt in front of the sprawling wooden building.

I clamber out into the bustle of the disembarking court. Unwilling to head straight into the dining hall just to sit down again, I wander over to the horses that’ve drawn the imperial carriage. The nearest one gives a huff when it sees me, but it leans its neck against my rubbing fingers.

“That’s a good boy,” I murmur. “I bet you need a good scratch under your chin, right?—”

I don’t see or hear anything, but all at once, the horse and his harnessed companion startle. They lurch forward so suddenly his shoulder knocks into me.

I stumble and manage to shove myself out of the way of their anxious hooves—and the carriage jolting toward me with their fright. With a shout from the nearby soldiers, the huge wooden wheel grinds to a halt just inches from my feet.

Marc catches my arms from behind. “Are you all right?”

With my nerves jumping at the scare, I’d like to wrench away from him. Instead, I force myself to slump a little into his embrace, clinging to his sleeve. “Gods above, that frightened me. I don’t know what got into the horses.”

“You could have been badly injured if you hadn’t moved so quickly.” He frowns at the carriage and then at the figures around us who’ve stopped to see what caused the commotion.

Does he think it was some kind of sabotage, an attempt at harming me, like he seemed to believe with the falling rock in Rione?

What if it was?

Marc mustn’t see any definite evidence, because he simply lobs a few commands at the stablehands who’ve come running over and then escorts me inside. My heart keeps thumping at a faster than usual pace.

In the dining room, Marc sees me to my seat before stalking off. I spot him cornering High Commander Axius by the wall. As I watch them with a knot in my stomach, Bianca drops into the chair next to me.

“Well,” she remarks, “you have developed quite a taste for danger, haven’t you? Although this time you saved yourself.”

My gaze darts to her injured shoulder, though I’m sure the medics patched it up quite well. “I’d rather not put anyone else in harm’s way if I can help it.”

“Hmm. Sometimes your court wants to help you, Your Imperial Highness. Don’t deny us the honor.”

She shoots me a wry grin to show she’s teasing, but her words sink in with more weight than I think she intended.

I don’t know about the rest of this court, butshedefinitely wants to help. She put her whole life on the line to protect me. I’m still not sure I’ll get to that point even with Marc.

I have my princes, but we’re so limited in how and when we can talk while we’re on the road. If I’m going to make it throughthis journey in one piece, I may need to extend my trust a little more.

It isn’t as if I need to spill every secret I have to count on her for one small favor.

I lean closer, dropping my voice to a tone both conspiratorial and wary. “These accidents have been rather… concerning. You would tell me if you heard any murmurings of dissatisfaction among the rest of court, wouldn’t you?”

Bianca’s smile sharpens. “Oh, if I catch wind of anyone plotting in ways they shouldn’t, I’ll enjoy seeing you dispense justice. I’ll see what I can pick up from the current gossip tonight.”

She takes to the idea so readily I dare to add one more. “There’s also… if you wouldn’t feel uncomfortable about it…”

The vicerine’s expression goes solemn. “What is it? You don’t need to worry about my comfort.”

My pulse thrums even faster, but I whisper the words all the same. “If you notice Marclinus is in one of his… fiercer moods before he’s encountered me for the day, perhaps you could give me advance warning?”

Bianca has seen my husband’s erratic treatment of me often enough. A trace of sympathy crosses her face before she nods. “It would be no trouble at all, Your Imperial Highness.”

A glimmer of relief lights in my chest. I offer her a smile of my own. “I think you can call me Aurelia. Since we are friends, after all.”

Chapter Sixteen

Aurelia

The capital of Cotea drapes across a winding river, nestled between several rolling hills. The midday sun beams off sloping rooftops covered in pale pearly tiles that glint like no building material I’ve ever seen before.

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